Means for locating engine troubles



Oct. 16, 1934. E. EATO-N 1,977,230

MEANS FOR LOCATING ENGINE TROUBLES Filed April 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ii? I 17 Eu-r/ L. Euffi fnve'nf'u' Oct. 16, 1934. E, EATON MEANS FORLOCATING ENGINE TRQUBLES Filed April 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 En?! L.Emfmw Tvewfmr Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a remote control for short circuiting sparkplugs and means for cating troubles within internal combustion enginesof the type equipped. with spark plugs and 5 used on automobiles,air-planes, tractors, marine engines, and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide a trouble detector forinternal combustion engines.

I accomplish the objects of my invention as 10 shown in the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of this specification and in which similarletters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the variousviews.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is descriptive of the device andshows the hook up.

Figure 2 shows a sectional end view on the righthand unit shown inFigure 3, and of that portion of my device which in use is normallyplaced beneath the hood of an automobile or elsewhere. Figure 3 shows asectional side view of that portion of my device shown in Figure 2, twounits only being shown, it being understood that any required number maybe had. Figure 4 shows a partial plan View of the'switch with which mydevice is equipped for the purposes of remote control. In use thisswitch is conveniently positioned at the steering wheel, or elsewhere.Figure 5 shows a sectional end View of said switch. Fig. 6 is a top planview of the magnet.

Referring again to Figure 1, T shows the battery used for ignition. Mshows a spark coil. N shows the distributor, and-S the spark plugs.These parts are all common on internal combustion engines with which mydevice is intended for use. My device can be made for any number ofcylinders, but for illustration I use only two of the complete circuits,showing one in open position and one in closed position, open positionmeaning that the device is not in working position, and closed positionmeaning that my device is in working position. The wire B connectsbattery T with contact points B which are a part of the gang switch,this connection to the battery being connected on the same pole as thespark coil and distributor. I another contact point of the switch, isnot in contact with B while in open position therefore no current canpass through the switch. I is connected by means of the wire I to thecoil I thus completing one side of the circuit to the coil I The otherside of the circuit follows wire C direct to the other side of theplurality of coils including the coil I and at a point designated 5 by Ka wire C is connected to the. wire 0 and wire C is connected'on theother end tothe permanent magnet G of the horse-shoe type and throughthe bearingsto the swing arm G which has a tail piece G which is actedupon by an electromagnet, the operation of which is controlled by the.switch I (detail of the electromagnet explained later). It will beunderstood that the permanent magnet G functions when the unit is in anyposition by returning the arm G and its tail piece G to its normal openposition shown in the left unitof Figure 3 when the current isdisconnected. The object of this arm G is explained in the next circuitwhich is similar to the one just explained, except that it is shown inclosed position. When the device is in open position, the operation ofthe spark plugs S is not interfered with. In the closed position wire Bconnects the battery T. with a contact point B as explained previously.In this circuit, the switch is closed and contact point I iselectrically connected to contact point B thus allowing the current toflow through wire I to coil I, through the coil I-to wire C and back tothe battery T. This causes the electromagnetto attract the tail piece G(see also Figure 3-) and rotate the same in the bearings G and G towardsthe magnetized core. H (Figure 3). G being affixed to G Figures 1 and 3,and pivoted on the same arm, will swing up into contact with D in theposition as shown by G, see also Figures 1 and 3.

The operation is as follows: When the switch 133 and I? is open, currentflows fromthebattery through the primary winding of the ignition coil Mand back to the battery. 7 Flow of current through the primary windingof the ignition coil M induces a high tension current in the secondarywinding of the ignition coil M, which normally, or when the switches B Iand D G are open, flows from the coil M through the distributor N, wiresS spark plugs S, to ground on the engine and so back to the coil whichis grounded. When a switch B I is closed and its coil I is energized tooperate the armature G to close the electromagnet switch D G the sparkplug is shorted out and the high tension or spark plug current flowsfrom the coil M through the distributor wires S wire F, switch D' (3:wire C wire 0' back to coil M.

In the open position first above explained, it will be noted that arm Gdoes not come in contact with contact point D and therefore wire F hasno effect on the spark plugs S All the circuits in my device act in asimilar manner, and any number of spark plugs may be likewise shortcircuited by closing the switch which is on the line with said sparkplugs. When dual ignition is used, contact with the two points D, Figure2, is made simultaneously, so that an electrical connection may be madeto each spark plug.

Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, show more particularly the details of my devicewhich embodies two parts, a switch box, and a unit box. The unit boXwhich carries the main mechanism or parts comprises the casing A, Figure2, which has two exterior binding posts B and C, from which wires B andC connect my unit with the battery, wire B corresponding to B on thewiring diagram, which correspondence applies to wire C and other partssimilarly designated. From the binding post B a wire B (not shown in thewiring diagram) conveys the current to plate B Figures 4 and 5, on theswitch. The plate B acts as one of the contact points of my switch andis so designed that one of a series of finger projections thereonprojects under each-button n the series of buttons. When the button 15pressed, the respective finger thereunder contacts with another contactin the switch. The buttons designated as B and B Figure 5, operate thetwo sections shown. Button 38 shown in Figure 5, when pressed, forces afinger projection on plate B against a contact point I which is part ofplate 1 and said plate, through wire I is electrically connected to thecoil 1, Figures 1 and 2. This closes the circuit, allowing the currentto flow through the coil I to the wire C Figures 1 and -2, whichconnects with the binding post C, through wire C in Figure 3, and thenceback to the battery by means of wire C Figures 1 and '2. The currentpassing through the coil I causes the core H which is within theinsulated spool'I-I to become magnetized, which attracts the tail pieceG (see Figure 3') and forces the arm G, Figures 2 and 3, into contactwith D. Wire C coming from the battery as heretofore explained, isalways in contact with the artificial permanent magnet G within which isone of the pivot bearings for G and G and these parts being ofelectrically conductive materials, when arm G contacts with D, theelectric current passes from D to the :battery, through the arm G to thebearing block in G", through the wire C back 'to the battery "T asheretofore explained. The current travels from the spark plugs S,through the wire F, Figures '1 and 2, to the binding post E Figure 2,and D is the contact part of said binding "post, Figures -1 and 2.

The coils I and '1 are optionally made with an inner winding, designatedby "the character I Thecore H comprises strips of wire, passing throughthe center of spool I-l. Any one of the coils I, with the correspondingcore H when electrically connected with a source of energy, constitutes'and functions "as 'an electric magnet. G designates the second 'pivot,point for the arm G. The arm G and tail piece G in Figure '3, areoperated the same .as arm G and finger "G in Figure 2. The switch buttonB5, Figure 5, is shown not pressed in this case, and therefore the:circuit is open. I .Figures 1 and 5, .show the contact point with whichplate B would register if pressure was applied to the button B Contactpoint 1 Figures land 5, is attached 5 plate 1 Figure 5, and iselectrically connected to 15, Figures 1 and :3, by means of the wire 1Figures 1 and 3. The other end of the coil is connected to the bindingpost c, Figure 3, by:

the wire C thence to the battery by wire C Figures 1 and 2. D, Figures 1and 3, shows the contact with which the arm G registers when currentflows through the coil I. This coil I and wire C Figures 1 and 3, areelectrically connected at K, Figures 1 and 2. 0*, Figure 3, shows a wirewhich extends the full length of my unit, and with this wire,connections are made similar to that made by P, Figure 3. I, Figure 3,shows a conduit used to shield the wires between switch and the otherportion of my device. E and E Figure 3, show binding posts to which thewires F and F Figures 1 and 2, are connected, the said wires being alsoconnected to the spark plugs. There are two contacts D, Figure 2, shownand two binding posts E to allow connection to a cylinder in which dualignition is "used. When single ignition is used, only one of thesebinding posts and contact points are required. J shows the casing of myswitch, Figures 4 and 5. The number of buttons on the switch shouldcorrespond to the number of the coilsor pairs of binding postsdesignated by the characters E and E Figure 3.- L, in Figure 3, shows :ahanger means by which my unit may be suspended in convenient positionwhile in use, a similar hanging means on the opposite end of my deviceis provided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States of America:-

.1. In a testing device, the combination with the spark plugs of aninternal combustion engine, of a series of electromagnets includingcores, permanent magnets mounted on the electromagnets, armaturescarried by the permanent magnets, contacts associated with the plugs,and a switch device in circuit with the electromagnets for energizingand deenergizing the electromagnets to move the armatures into or out ofengagement with said contacts.

2. In a "testing device, the combination with the spark plugs of aninternal combustion engine, :of a series of electromagnets, permanentmagnets connected with the electromagnets, connections between theelectromagnets and plugs, armatures pivotally connected with thepermanent magnets, and a switch device in circuit with theelectromagnets and connections and operable to control the circuit toactuate the armatures to engage or disengage the contacts.

3. In a testing device, the combination with the spark :plugs of aninternal combustion engine, of electromagnets, permanent magnets mountedon the electromagnets, switch devices,

contacts for the spark plugs, armatures pivotally connected to thepermanent magnets, said armatures including tail pieces and arms,circuit wires connecting the electromagnets, and said switch devices toactuate the tail pieces of the armatures to move the arms thereof intoor out of engagement with the contacts upon energizing or deenergizingthe electromagnets through the medium of the switch device.

4. In a testing device, the combination with the spark plugs of aninternal combustion engine, of a series of electromagnets, permanentmagnets mounted on the electromagnets, armatures including tail pieces,means for pivotally connecting the tail pieces to'the permanent magnets,arms carried by the tail pieces, contacts connected to the spark plugs,switch devices and current conductors connecting the electromagnets andswitch devices, whereby when the electromagnets are energized the saidarms will enpermanent magnets, contacts adjacent the armatures,connections between said contacts and spark plugs, and electrical meansin circuit with the electromagnets to energize ordeenergize theelectromagnets to move the armatures into or out of engagement with saidcontacts.

EARL L. EATON.

